New toilets at Ainsdale station

The installation is seen as part of a pilot scheme and if it is successful, it could mean new toilets are introduced at other key locations on the Merseyrail network.

Cllr Brenda Porter, one of the Ainsdale ward councillors, told the Visiter: “We had our public toilet removed from Ainsdale Village back in 2005.

“I have always said since then that we needed a toilet facility in the village for both people who live in the area and also those who use the station.”

After talks with Merseytravel, the transport provider applied to the ‘Access for All’ fund at the Department for Transport to help fund the facility.

As a result, Merseyrail is paying for 50% of the capital cost and the ‘Access for All’ fund for the other 50%.

Cllr Porter added: “There are two toilets, one is a general use one and the other is for disabled users.”

A spokesman for Merseytravel told the Visiter: “We have selected Ainsdale station for the pilot of the facility as it is the nearest station to the popular Pontin’s Holiday camp as well as offering an accessible route to the Sefton coast. The scheme is also well supported by the local community as well as Merseytravel.”